Review: The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is a shining example of classic horror; four strangers gather together under the roof of the infamous Hill House to explore and seek out evidence of the supernatural, only to discover that the house's reputation for being unpleasant and hostile to visitors is well earned.

Jackson does a number of very interesting things here, not least of which is putting us in the mind of Eleanor "Nellie" Vance. Most of the novel is told from her perspective, as she gets to know her fellow companions and explores the house. Eleanor is a fascinating, if tragic, character. Her lack of worldly experiences (having spent most of her adult life caring for her sick mother) and her passive nature make her susceptible to fantasy and daydreaming, but her lack of self awareness and her conflicting desires to fit in but be the center of attention (while steadfastly maintaining that she desires nothing more than to be unnoticed) lead to many of the story's most interesting conflicts.

Eleanor quickly becomes the focus of most of the house's supernatural occurrences; her name is written on the walls several times, and she begins to identify with and feel overcome by the personality of the house. A particularly interesting section near the end of the book has her identifying so strongly with the house that she loses herself completely and begins to think of herself as an extension of the house. By the end of the book, Eleanor sees herself as part of the house, with each belonging to the other.

Because of the way that the story is presented--mostly from Eleanor's perspective--the reader is left to imagine not only some of the frightening occurrences (what, exactly, Theo sees when she and Eleanor are running and Theo looks behind, remains unsaid), but, also, the cause. Is the house haunted, as they suspect, or is Eleanor unconsciously responsible for the events that transpire (the book leaves open the possibility, unspoken, that Eleanor may be telekinetic, for example).

While the supernatural forces at play are well done, the book is perhaps most interesting for the interpersonal dynamics that are it explores. The four main characters begin the story on excellent terms and Eleanor immediately finds herself drawn to Theo. Eleanor has never had many/any friends, and Theo's vivaciousness and energy are particularly appealing to Eleanor. As the novel progresses, and the dynamics of the relationships are tested and explored, Eleanor's opinions and attitudes swing wildly, which I found tremendously fascinating. She goes from adoring Theo on the first day, to wishing she was dead by the midweek, to wanting to move in with her by the last night. Her feelings about the other guests are similarly unhinged and erratic.

The plot is fairly quickly paced (it's a fairly short work, frankly), and there aren't any moments that drag or feel too long. Jackson's prose is strong, and there are several stand-out moments, although the opening is certainly the most memorable:

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.

For fans of classic horror or people who like a good psychological study with their supernatural thrills, this is a must read.






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